Continuous learning

By REVATHI MURUGAPPAN l Saturday, Apr 3, 2011

Who says education is only for the young? Older students are rising to the challenge and enrolling in basic degree courses, giving younger classmates stiff competition. A decade ago, I decided to quit my journalism career and embark on an artistic journey, pursuing a degree in dance to that end. My family was aghast. The editor thought I was nuts, and acquaintances said mid-life crisis had arrived early, but my good buddies rallied behind me. I just wanted to dance. Not at the disco but on stage. It was a passion that had to be pursued then, or never. I knew my agility would lessen as I aged and the time frame to dance, shortened. From the inspiring conversations with my late jazz dance teacher, I harboured dreams of making it to New York but first needed more technical skills. After scraping together every cent I could, I applied, auditioned and got accepted as an undergraduate at a reputable university in the United States. And so, while my peers were busy accumulating wealth and procreating, I tortured my body and pushed it beyond the limits. How many people would be foolish enough to trade their careers for ballet tights and pointe shoes at 30? Going back to university for a basic degree at a later age was a humbling experience. My classmates were 18-year-olds who could do aerials (cartwheels without the hands touching the ground) and four pirouettes effortlessly, while I stumbled over two. Blood, sweat, tears, injuries and all, I immersed myself completely in the three-year programme, which got extended to four after a bad foot fracture. The sports medicine clinic became one of my favourite hangouts and the physiotherapists, my best friends. The course was extremely challenging and often frustrating, but I was determined to succeed. Yes, Im proud to say I made it lit up a few theatres, did the Big Apple stint, danced alongside Liza Minelli and . . . returned to journalism because dancing just couldnt put bread on the table. Switching careers isnt easy but flipping through textbooks and memorising facts for examinations is even trickier. Older students entering non-traditional courses are a rarity. Imagine a 60-year-old wanting to study medicine or hoping to become the next Barishnikov.

Lets face it, no amount of headstands or gingko biloba can sharpen a 40 -year-olds rusty memory and prepare her for university. Its the maturity and life experiences that set her apart. Here are some thoughts from older students embarking on their basic degree. Pushpa Ramalingam, 42 She obtained her masters in law, practised law for 15 years and was a partner in a legal firm. She clocked in long hours but desperately wanted to have children. When my son finally came along after seven years of marriage, it had such an impact on my life, which was reinforced with the birth of my daughter. I wanted to spend all my time with children, she says. With her husbands encouragement, she registered in a Montessori course and armed herself with a diploma. She discovered she loved teaching pre-schoolers. Children are our future but I feel the tendency is not to take them seriously. Indeed, the initial years before they start school are when they are most vulnerable and malleable. We can help mould a child into all that is good and right in a world that is sharing, giving and without any boundaries, opines Pushpa. Stimulated by her newfound knowledge and wanting to become a qualified kindergarten teacher, she bade farewell to law in 2008 and enrolled for a graduate diploma of education (early childhood studies) course at a foreign university. On her first week of class, she was so overwhelmed that she suffered bouts of migraine. The technology in university has progressed since my varsity days in England when blackboards and white chalks were used for lectures. We are now using electronic blackboards, submitting assignments online and using software to check on plagiarism, she says. But luckily for Pushpa, there are many mature students in her course who empathise with her. They come from all over the world, from different cultural, socio -economic backgrounds and comprise a wide age range. Theres one student whose last degree was 30 years ago! Every day, Pushpa plays the juggling game. There are household chores to finish, husband and kids to attend to, meals to cook, laundry to do and, of course, papers to write! I have to be more focused because I only have a couple of hours to spend on school work. Ive become better at reading quickly and picking out the main points. Since my

children are also in the age group that I am studying, I can use them as guinea pigs and test out all the theories. Despite the challenges, Pushpa is enjoying herself. At the end of the year she hopes to have her framed certificate hanging on the wall. Juhara Ayob, 39 This name might ring a bell for Malay theatre-goers. Juhara, who has acted in a number of plays and television dramas, is now a final-year student of drama at Universiti Malaya. After she spent five years as a theatre tutor at the National Arts Culture and Heritage Academy (Aswara), Juhara felt compelled to pursue her degree when the academy made it mandatory that all tutors be graduates. Things have been topsy-turvy for her since, especially with three young kids, aged six, three and one, to contend with. The last pregnancy was unplanned but Juhara delivered during the semester break and didnt have to postpone her studies. Most of her classmates are barely 21 and look up to her. Juhara is open to sharing and is not embarrassed to ask them for assistance. On stage, age is just a number and everyone competes to make an impression. I need to prove that Im better than the juniors because Im more experienced in the industry, she says, laughing. The competition is stiff so I have to work harder. The younger students catch on to the theories faster because their minds are still fresh. Im a little rusty. There are days when all her kids demand attention, and Juhara has to oblige. She would then wake up in the middle of the night to do her assignments. Once I was up till 4am, and one of the kids woke up. Usually when one wakes up, the other two will also wake up and cry for mummy. So I had to place one on my lap, one on my shoulder and carry one in my arms while typing with the other hand. Sundays are strictly reserved for the family unless shes involved in a play and has to attend rehearsals. In my younger days, I was a terrible student but now, Im above average. My diffic ulty lies in doing research because data is hard to find, says Juhara, who aspires to be a director Anna Lee Siew Hui, 37 Anna Lee never imagined she would end up studying for a music degree at 36. When she left school at 17, her parents were facing financial constraints and couldnt pay for her studies.

And so Lee worked as a bank teller while studying music part-time. When she obtained her diploma in music, she started teaching piano to kids. At one point, she had 38 private students, while also teaching at music centres. The experience drained her and she longed for something different. Then a friend told her that older students could enrol in degree programmes at local universities. Lee applied and was accepted into Universiti Malaya. I wanted a break from teaching, and the timing was right. I even att ended the one-week orientation though it was not compulsory for mature students. I have to be at the same frequency as the younger students. Now Im being exposed to other forms of music. Im taking jazz piano lessons instead of classical, and its alien t o me. Its tough to improvise! Lee says, still dazed in her second year at university. Life is hectic. Lee lives in Kuala Lumpur during weekdays, teaches piano and goes back home to Port Dickson during the weekend to spend time with her husband and daughter. My time is indeed precious but the sacrifices have made me a better person. Its different for my course-mates who only have to worry about studies, shopping and Facebook, she says. Lee tinkles on the ivory keys at least eight hours weekly to prepare for her recital hearing. Students have the choice of giving recitals or writing a thesis for their final project. Prior to university, I had never performed in public. Here, youve got so many eyes on you during the mini recitals, and it can be nerve-racking. Performance is the hardest because you have to memorise every note. But I want to do a recital as I can always do thesis writing for my masters later. Zunnurin Abdul Aziz, 51 The headmaster of Sekolah Kebangsaan (2) Batu Empat Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur is a full-time teacher and student who is in his final semester doing a bachelor of education management at Universiti Malaya. He alternates between four weeks in university and four weeks at school. Zunnurin is enrolled in a special programme by the Ministry of Education to get 50% of primary school teachers to become university graduates. Most of his course-mates are in their 30s with a handful in their 50s, so, hes in good company. Its not easy, he sighs. Im responsible as a headmaster, a studen t, head of the house and a husband. Im lucky my wife is very supportive, wakes me up to study and doesnt push me to go on holidays.

My main worry is that I might fall sick. Even though I have a capable assistant, I dont want the parents to say the school didnt perform well because the headmaster was missing. When he was in a teacher training college, Zunnurin only learnt pedagogy but now, the programme focuses on leadership, motivation and supervision. On the whole, the course is related to my job so its not extremely tough. What was tough was the Pendidikan Seni class. I panicked because I couldnt draw! We had to learn painting, sculpture, batik designing, etc, and in the end, there was an exhibition. I dont know how I made it. A few months ago, as Zunnurin was browsing through his old Oxford dictionary, he came across a little note he wrote as a teenager. The university is waiting for me, it said. He was tickled. Who would think Id end up in university at 50? When I stepped into this programm e, I told myself I must graduate with first class honours. Or else, Im not walking up to receive my scroll. So far, hes still on track.

Taken from http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2010/4/3/lifefocus/5970623&sec=lifefoc us